PARENTS’ EDUCATION LEVEL AND TRUANCY AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Parents’ education level is consideredas the most stable (permanent) aspect of socio-economic status of individuals, its one most significant aspect of socio-economic background.The study examined relationship between parents’ education level and truancy among senior secondary school students in Niger State, Nigeria. Two objectives were stated and two null hypotheses were tested. Correlation design was employed for the study. The target population for the study comprised of all the truant senior secondary school students in their first year (SS1) and their parents in Niger State. The population of SSI in Niger State was 75,383 students, however, four hundred truant SSI students and their parents constituted the sample of the study, which was drawn purposively from the selected 24 schools in 8 education zones of Niger State. Parents Questionnaire (PQ) and Proforma on Truancy among Senior Secondary School Students’ (PTSSSS) were used for data collection. The PQ was validated using split-half method and reliability coefficient of .72 was found which shows that the instrument was reliable for the purpose of this study. The data collected for the study was analyzed using chi-square and t-test of independent samples. The results were considered at P<.05 level.The findings of the study revealed that there was significant relationship between parents’ education level and truancy among senior secondary school students in Niger State. It was further found that there was significant difference between the mean truancy of boys and girls among senior secondary school students in Niger State in favour of girls.Based on findings of the study the researchers concluded thatparents’ level of education influences their children to be truantsbehaviour in secondary schools. It was also concluded that female students’ takes advantage of school hours to engage in other activities outside home that cannot be allowed by parents after schools hours.